The Daily News. SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1920. WHAT SHALL GERMANY PAY?

Taranaki Daily News, 8 May 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1920. WHAT SHALL GERMANY PAY?

At last the question of the amount that Germany shall be called upon to pay by way oj reparation is being seriously discussed prior to the conference which is to take place at Spa. The time limit within which Germany could make an offer has expired, and it is for the Allies now to fix the total and the terms. During the peace negotiations Germany made a proposal that her liability should be fixed at five thousand million sterling. ,but now claims to have withdrawn that proposal, it being understood that a Committee of Treasury ex ' perts has reported in favor of pay-, ing fifty million sterling a year in gold, an amount which would spread the payment of five thousand million over one hundred years. That Germany will endeavour to put up a bluff, as well as a whining appeal over the amount of her indemnity liability is a matter of course, but the Allies have a stern duty to perform and should be firm in their resolve to insist on an amount that will justly represent what Germany should be called upon to pay within a reasonable time. It is stated that Mr. Austen Chamberlain (British Chancellor of the Exchequer) is preparing the reparation claims which have to be notified to Germany before May 1 next, and it may be presumed he has the necessary material available, not only as regards the whole of the Empire, but also as to all the Allies. In connection with that work, sentiment should find no place. The bill should be full and fair to all concerned. The question of Germany's ability to pay does not rest on her financial and economical position to-day or even during the next ten years. TheVe are certain factors which cannot be disregarded in this day of reckoning, the chief being that the terrible damage wrought by the Germans was as intentional as their general policy of frightfulness. The only way in which she can be punished for her crimes, so that the people who applauded the war and gloried in its criminality, shall be made to bear the consequences of their nets is to make them feel the burden of a liability that arises from the most unjust and cruel war ever waged in Europe. They may, and probably will, rave against being the victims of vengeance, but the interests of justice demand that the reparation claims shall lie commensurate with the losses suffered. The French view of this matter is reasonable and logical. M. Millerand strongIv desires the Allies to meet the Germans with fixed decisions, admitting only of discussion as to their application. France had a bitter experience' of German op*

pression half a century ago when she had to pay a heavy indemnity to Germany—and she paid it. Hence it is not surprising to find that she now opposes fixing the total amount of the reparation at present, believing that Germany is capable of a rapid recovery financially and commercially, and she suggests a stipulated annual minimum during thirty years, plus an annual addition regulated by Germany's recovery. The proposal is («rtainly reasonable, and would allow Germany a fair opportunity for rehabilitation. So far, Germany has pursued a wasteful policy by failing to disarm, and has spent large sums in armaments and military operations in defiance of the Treaty. With all her boasted resources it is futile for her to pretend that ,she cannot pay, though it is quite natural for her to say that she will not. Her first duty is to confiscate the whole of the Hohenzollern estates, real and personal, and then to heavily tax the wealthy. The fact is, however, that her aim is to avoid by every possible means the payment of anything but a nominal amount, so that she may at once set about the rebuilding of her past glory. France is no more actuated by revenge towards Germany than is Britain, but in the light of her painful and costly experiences with Germany lias a better understanding of what should be done to make her enemy pay for his misdeeds. It is to be hoped that Britain will act firmly and not be swayed by German guile either in the matter of reparation payments or a revision of the Treaty. Germany can pay all that can fairly be claimed from her if the instalments are reasonably adjusted, but the French Premier's contention that the Allies slnJuld make up their minds as to what Germany ought to pay, and rigidly Adhere to the figures, is the only policy that meets the case.